The Inn

Thirteen year old Jason finds himself trapped in an inn that turns out to be nastier than it looks. Fallen under the crutches of the evil Boogeyman and his pet, the gargoyle, Jason is thrown into various alternate dimensions. Will he escape this ordeal or get captivated in a portal that has no return along with these hideous creatures?It’s raining in Port Isabel and everyone’s indoors except Larry Monkey, a brilliant young chimp deeply troubled by the past. He wanders the winding laneways of the old stone town to be alone. And it’s a good thing, because trouble’s brewing and he might be the only one able to stop it. Flossy Fairweather, a remarkable girl with courage beyond her years, has seen something lurking in the shadows too and goes to investigate, sword in hand. It could be a trap and if the pirates are back they’ll want revenge. But Flossy’s not afraid because she’s amongst friends, mostly anyway.By the end of the next ice age, all that remains of the once great, world-spanning human civilisation are myths and ancient, inexplicable artefacts lying at the feet of melting glaciers. Thanks to the red-hot Heat Tree reefs that keep the ice at bay, the lands above the Gulf of Mexico are some of the few places still warm enough to support life. On the western shores of the Gulf is Port Isabel, a town conceived and built by owls who mysteriously vanished hundreds of years before without even bothering to say goodbye. The animals that live there are industrious, peaceful and vegetarian; except for those that aren't, which is where all the trouble starts.Mark Douglas Stafford is an award winning writer living in Sydney, Australia. His novels, fables and short stories are adored by children and adults alike.